The Exchange

"Deal."

Simu didn't bother putting on airs and answered straightforwardly.

A spell that could stop foreign guns and didn't require much was incredibly rare.

The Maoshan Sect had spells that could stop foreign guns, but they required at least the Foundation Establishment stage to cast, or else needed especially precious materials.

Being a Taoist in this world wasn't safe, either. Though warlords everywhere feared Taoists and their various spells and generally wouldn't provoke them, there were bound to be some hardheaded fools.

When they lined up a hundred guns against you, you could die without even having anyone to complain to.

"Good. Then it's a deal."

Lu Yan smiled and nodded, not at all surprised.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yan took a stack of paper and two pens from the Kamui Dimension and set them on the table before starting to write.

Seeing how readily Lu Yan agreed, Simu was taken aback. He liked Lu Yan even more and picked up another sheet of paper to write as well.

Meanwhile, Chen Yulou was heading straight for Simu's residence with Hua Maguai, Red Maiden, and Kunlun.

Simu had deliberately chosen a place far from civilization for his residence. There wasn't a soul within a hundred li, and it was a hundred and twenty li from Huaiyin County.

Chen Yulou and the others had all trained in martial arts and had more stamina than ordinary people. Even after traveling for most of the day, they had covered only half the distance.

"General Manager, it'll be completely dark soon. Let's rest before we continue."

Looking at the dimming sky and the dense woods around them, Hua Maguai suggested they stop.

"All right. Let's take a short break."

Chen Yulou nodded, sat down on a large bluestone, and took a sip of water from his waterskin.

Red Maiden and Kunlun sat down nearby, too. Even with their extraordinary constitutions, traveling for most of the day had taken its toll.

"General Manager, why are we in such a hurry this time?"

Red Maiden scooped up some water and wiped her sweat-dampened face before turning to ask Chen Yulou.

When Chen Yulou had set out, he'd been dressed in a blue robe and wearing glasses, looking every bit the dashing gentleman. After traveling for most of the day, though, he looked a little worse for wear. Leaning against the bluestone, he straightened his clothes as he replied:

"I made some inquiries before setting out. Taoist Simu should have just returned from a corpse-driving trip. If we don't hurry, he'll be off again, and then who knows how long we'll have to wait? The refugees in the four regions can't afford to wait."

"Everyone, hang in there. We'll travel through the night and get there as soon as we can."

Simu and Lu Yan were going over the spells they'd exchanged. Whenever either of them had a question, they took turns answering, and the atmosphere was congenial.

"I never imagined Western magic could be so ingenious."

Simu had originally been somewhat puzzled by the Repulsion Field, but after hearing Lu Yan's explanation, he couldn't help praising it.

"The Maoshan Sect truly is renowned for its talismans. There's so much to learn about drawing them."

Lu Yan had gained a great deal as well. Not only had he learned how to draw the Godly Travel Talisman and the Vajra Talisman, he'd also come to understand more about the art of talisman-making.

The Maoshan Sect had truly turned talisman-making into an art. Its Taoists could draw talismans not only with their own magical power but also by drawing on the right time, place, and people.

They could draw different talismans at different auspicious times, which not only saved them effort but also made the talismans more powerful.

They could also set up an altar and, through special rituals, draw on the power of the earth's ley lines.

Even more amazing, by offering sacrifices to their ancestral master, they could directly draw on his power to make talismans without lifting a finger themselves.

"Haha, not at all."

Simu waved a hand, trying to be modest, but his pride was plain on his face.

Just as Simu and Lu Yan were getting along famously, a chanting sound suddenly reached them.

"Here we go again."

Simu gave a cold snort, his face darkening.

"Taoist Simu, is that Master Yixiu chanting?"

Lu Yan could tell who was chanting, of course, but he still asked.

"Who else could it be? He chants day in, day out, and I've yet to see him ascend to the Western Paradise."

Simu glared toward Yixiu's house nearby, his expression hostile as he spoke angrily.

"Oh."

Seeing Simu's expression, Lu Yan smiled amiably and said:

"I have a Soundproofing Array. I wonder if you'd be willing to trade for it, Taoist Simu?"

"Is it troublesome to set up?"

Simu gave Lu Yan a suspicious look, but couldn't help asking.

"The materials are simple. Set it up once and you can use it indefinitely. Each time you use it, you only need to supply a little magical power."

"Deal."

As the chanting continued without letup, Simu's expression shifted. He asked in a low voice:

"What do you want?"

"It's simple: an Evil-Exorcising Talisman and a Corpse-Suppressing Talisman."

Lu Yan smiled brightly.

"You really have learned a bellyful of foreign knowledge. You're devious, kid. You'll have me cleaned out before long."

Now that Simu and Lu Yan had grown familiar, Simu was less formal with him. He'd already made up his mind not to trade with the kid again.

"How can you put it that way? It's mutually beneficial."

Lu Yan was in a good mood and began writing down the instructions for setting up the Soundproofing Array.

Simu had no choice but to shake his head and start writing as well.

By the time Lu Yan had guided Simu through setting up the first Soundproofing Array, it was already late at night. Lu Yan yawned and started to feel sleepy, so he cupped his hands toward Simu and said, "That's enough for today, Taoist Simu. I'm going to bed."

"Sure."

Simu didn't even turn around. He was still fiddling with the Soundproofing Array, clearly fascinated by something from a different system of magic.

"Now that old monk won't be able to bother me!"

Simu tried out the Soundproofing Array. Sure enough, he couldn't hear the chanting anymore, and he laughed with satisfaction.

Not far away, Jiale was at the window, chatting happily with Qingqing through a makeshift telephone made from two bamboo tubes connected by a cotton string. When he suddenly heard his master laugh, he shivered.

"Jiale, what's wrong? Over."

Seeing Jiale shudder at the window, Qingqing spoke into her bamboo tube.

"Qingqing, my master suddenly started laughing over there. He scared me. Over."

Jiale spoke into his bamboo tube in reply.

"What's your master doing? Over."

"It looks like he's discussing magic with Big Brother Lu. Over."

"Big Brother Lu is so amazing. I feel like he knows so much. Over."

"Yeah, and he's really nice. My master has never even given me new clothes. Over."

"Your master is so stingy. Over."

"Yeah, my master isn't just stingy, he's petty, too. Over."

Simu was standing not far from Jiale. His face darkened as he heard all of it. He walked over and rapped Jiale on the head.

"Ow!"

"Jiale, what's wrong? Over."

"My master heard everything I said. He hit me. Over."

"Your master's a monster. Over."

Simu was so angry that the corners of his mouth twitched. He snatched the bamboo tube from Jiale and shouted into it:

"Your master's the monster!"

"Over."

After that, Simu gave the tube a sharp tug and reeled in the one at the other end.

Turning around, he looked at Jiale beside him and smiled affectionately. He reached out, pinched Jiale's cheek, and tugged as he said with a grin:

"Jiale, Master loves you to death."

"M-Master, I was wrong."

Jiale's face was twisted with pain from the pinch.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go to bed."

Simu snorted and let go.

"Yes!"

Jiale hurried back to his room, dejected.

With his hands behind his back, Simu activated the Soundproofing Array, flopped onto his bed, and, in a thoroughly pleasant mood, began singing:

"At last, I can get a good night's sleep, sleep..."